Le Pin 2015

I have not had a Le Pin like this since the 1980s. It is so large and velvety textured yet remains agile and electric. The aromas are complex and complete with orange peel, chocolate and plum. Full and dense with an endless finish. Infinitely polished. The sweetness of fruit is impressive yet the wine remains fresh and dry. A new benchmark for Le Pin? Only 20 barrels made.

Score: 100

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, June 2016

The 2015 Le Pin, which comes in at a modest 13.8% alcohol, has a very perfumed and precise bouquet with raspberry coulis, crème de cassis, rose petals and cold stone aromas. This is adorned with very pure fruit, perhaps more confit-like than other vintages that I have tasted out of barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with a grainy texture on the entry and an extremely fine line of acidity. This is a decidedly more structured Le Pin from Jacques Thienpont, maybe a more masculine wine with fine backbone and lovely salinity towards the finish. There is enormous persistence that lingers long in the mouth, developing a marine-like nuance as it aerates. I like the seriousness here that neatly offsets the exuberance and precocity of the vintage, a wonderful Le Pin that will age with style and verve. Jacques suggested that it might be like the 1986 Le Pin. If so, judging by a half-bottle he then opened, a lucky few are going to be in for a treat.

Score: 96/98

Neal Martin, RobertParker.com (225), June 2016

I am lost for words to describe this young wine, but it’s like walking into the best flower shop in Paris. Flowers galore with dark fruits as well. Full-bodied, very tannic and exotic. Amazing muscle and finesse at the same time. Phenomenal wine. This is half a normal harvest. Greatest ever, clearly. Wait until 2026.

Score: 100

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2018

One of the most famous and hard-to-find wines of Bordeaux thanks to the tiny production and consistently fabulous quality. Jacques Thienpont established Le Pin in 1979 and his sumptuous Pomerol is always intense yet un-forced and fine. This was not yet available to taste in April 2015.

Farr Vintners, March 2016

Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.